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Compability between architecture ARMv5TE and ARMv7-A

Holger Elsenheimer

Hello everyone!

I have a question about the compability between architecture ARMv5TE and ARMv7-A.

We want to change our Platform-Processor from ARM 946E-S to an ARM Cortex A9.

The Problem is, that our customers have written own programs in IEC 61131 (PLC), which are saved in compiled binary form on a memory card. They don't want to compile the program again.

Till now, this position independent piece of code runs on an ARM 946E-S.

On the new Platform based on ARM Cortex A9, we can adapt the firmware and the runtime system for the customer generated IEC 61131 Code (Peripherals, Memory,...), but not the customer's code itself (The code is still unchanged on the memory card).

So, the key question is:

Will the customer's programs, that are compiled for an ARMv5TE architecture also run on an ARMv7-A architecture? Are all instructions and registers on the ARMv5TE arch also available on ARMv7-A?

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Best Regards,

      H.Elsenh.

  • +1

    Yes. Code compiled for a architecture v5TE core (946E-S) will run on an architecture v7-A core (Cortex-A9) unmodified.  We preserve backward compatibility.

    Obviously different ARM cores will have different implementation specific registers. So (as you say) you will need to port low level firmware and possibly some OS code - but generic C code should be fine.